Ore concentrator

ABSTRACT

This invention is a centrifugal ore concentrating vessel mounted for rotation about an axis and provided with the plurality of feed means which extend through the base of the vessel and are rotatable with the rotation of the vessel. The feed means define a common feed inlet opening below the base and plural discharge openings within the vessel. Further, this centrifugal ore concentrating vessel may be used to separate solids from liquids so as to purify the liquid.

United States Patent [72] Inventors Harry E. Smith 101 14-115th AvenueS.E.; Leo A. Smith, 2216 Dayton Avenue N .E., Renton, Wash. 98055 [21]Appl. No. 777,938 [22] Filed Sept. 26, 1968 [45] Patented Jan. 26, 1971Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 407,629, Oct. 30, 1964, nowabandoned.

[54] ORE CONCENTRATOR 7 Claims, 17 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 233/21, 209/44: 233/1, 233/2, 233/28, 233/45 [51] Int. ClB04b 11/00, [50] Field of Search 209/44, 211, 453, 465, 497, 444, 183;233/27, 28, 45, 21, 1, 2, 3; 210/242, 360A, 320

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 539,239 5/1895 Smith 233/27603,794 5/1898 Perks 233/14 Primary Examiner-Frank W. Lutter AssistantExaminerWilli'am L. Mentlik Att0rneyThomas W. Secrest ABSTRACT: Thisinvention is a centrifugal ore concentrating vessel mounted for rotationabout an axis and provided with the plurality of feed means which extendthrough the base of the vessel and are rotatable with the rotation ofthe vessel. The feed means define a common feed inlet opening below thebase and plural discharge openings within the vessel. Further, thiscentrifugal ore concentrating vessel may be used to separate solids fromliquids so as to purify the liquid.

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Wferresi' one CONCENTRATOR This invention is for a concentrator toconcentrate ore so as to recover valuable elements and compounds, and isa continuation-in-part of our previously filed patent applicationentitled ORE CONCENTRATOR, filing date of Oct. 30, I964, Ser. No.407,629 now abandoned.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide an efficientapparatus for concentrating ore; to provide an apparatus which is lightin weight, small in volume, and may be transported by one man; toprovide such an apparatus having relatively few moving parts and whichmay easily be maintained in operating condition; and, to provide such anapparatus which is inexpensive to manufacture.

Further, important objects of this invention are to provide an apparatusfor continuously separating the heavier solid from the lighter solid andliquid; to provide such an apparatus having a means for collecting theheavier solid so as to easily and quickly remove the heavier solid fromthe apparatus; and, to provide an apparatus which is capable ofseparating a liquid from a solid on a continuous basis so as to purifythe liquid from the solid.

These and other important objects and advantages of the invention willbe more particularly brought forth upon reference to the detailedspecification of the invention, the claims in the application, and theaccompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the specific embodiment of theinvention as constructed in accordance with the preferred teachingthereof;

FIG. 2 is a plan view looking down on the invention and with parts ofthe invention broken away .to more clearly illustrate some of thefeatures;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal, vertical, cross-sectional view of theinvention and shows details of construction of the same;

FIG. 4, on an enlarged scale, is a longitudinal vertical crosssectionalview showing details of the construction of the pan and oreconcentrator;

FIG. 5, taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 6 (or FIG. 8), is a longitudinalvertical cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the pan and oreconcentrator;

FIG. 6 is a plan view looking down on the pan and ore concentratorsimilar to that of FIG. 5 but having two tubes instead of four tubes;

FIG. 7 is an underneath plan view looking up at the invention of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a plan view looking down on the pan and ore concentrator ofFIG. 5 and shows four outlet tubes;

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal vertical cross-sectional view of anotherspecific embodiment of the invention which is constructed in accordancewith the preferred teachings thereof and illustrates an apparatuscapable of continuously separating a heavier solid from a lighter solidand a liquid and for collecting the heavier solid;

FIG. 10, taken on line 10-10 of FIG. 9 is a lateral verticalcross-sectional view looking at the collection box and the rotatingseparating apparatus;

FIG. 11, taken on line 11-11 of FIG. 9, is a fragmentary inclinedcross-sectional view illustrating the rotating apparatus, the collectionbox and the chute leading to the collection box;

FIG. 12, taken on line 12-12 of FIG. 9, is a horizontal, fragmentarycross-sectional view illustrating the rotor and the holes in the rotorslots in the bottom of the pan;

FIG. [3, taken on line 13-13 of FIG. 9, is a horizontal, fragmentarycross-sectional view of the pan and is looking down on the baffle plate;

FIG. 14, is an isometric view looking up at a fragmentary portion of thelatter part of the pan, the rotor, the baffle plate and the inletscreen;

FIG. 15 is a vertical lateral cross-sectional view of a water purifierand illustrates the rotor and the cap for directing the purified wateraway from the rotor;

FIG. 16, taken on line 16-16 of FIG. 15, is a longitudinal horizontalfragmentary view looking upwardly at the divider between the pan and thehousing of said rotor in the water purifier; and

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary plan view looking down on the cap or cover ofthe water purifier anda portion of the cap broken away to show the partof the rotor 'ofthe water purifier.

In the drawings it is seen that there is an ore concentrator 10 having aflat frame member 12 and two lateral spaced apart angles 14 and 16. Theangle 14 is attached to the flat plate member 12 near the rear of 12 andthe angle 16 is attached to the flat plate member 12 near the front ofthe plate member. These angles may be attached by means of rivets,bolts, or by welding, or by any convenient standard means for attachingthe angle. Attached to the rear of the angle 14 and also to the rearpart of the member 12 is a cylindrical tube 18. Attached to the front ofthe angle 16 and also to the front of the member 12 is a cylindricaltube 20. The cylindrical tubes 18 and 20, and the angles 14 and 16 runlaterally across the member 12. On each side and on top of the twocylindrical members 20 there is attached a tubular member 22. Thistubular member runs from the back of the cylindrical member 18,upwardly, then downwardly, and over the front of the cylindrical member20. Attached near the central portion of the tubular members 22 are twospaced apart lateral braces 24 having a depending leg 26 on each sideand a flat middle portion. The tubular members 22 may be attached to thecylindrical members l8 and 20 by welding and the brace members 24 may beattached to the tubular members 22 by rivets, bolts, and/or welding. Oneach side of 10 there is a longitudinal member having a straight section28 which overlies the tubular members 22, and has a downwardly dependingsection 30 which projects forwardly of the cylindrical member 20. Thestraight section 28 may be attached to the legs 26 by means of rivets,bolts, or welding, or other suitable mechanical means. Between the twomembers 30 there is positioned a screen 32. This screen may extend allthe way from the lower end of the member 30 to the upper end of themember 30 or substantially where the member 30 meets the member 28.Overlying the upper part of the member 30 and also the screen 32 thereis a housing having sides 34 which connect with the member 30 and a flatportion 36. The flat portion 36 covers most of the screen although thereis a lower portion of the screen exposed, say the lower fifth of thescreen is exposed. In the housing 30 there is a baffle 38 having ahandle or grasping portion 40. The bafile 38 is positioned between thesides 34 and positioned above the flat member 36. On the lower. part ofthe members 30 there is a housing having depending legs 42, a frontportion 44, a rear portion 46, and a bottom 48. This housing extendsfrom the outer part of the member 30, underneath theexposed portion ofthe screen 32 and to the other member 30. It acts as a basin or a trapfor ore and liquid which is passed through the exposed portion of thescreen 32. In the rear wall 46 there is an opening 50. In the opening 50there is positioned a pipe 52 having an inlet 54 near the front wall 44.The pipe 52 runs rearwardly from the inlet 54 and approximately near themiddle of the concentrator 10 the pipe 52 bends upwardly into a shortpipe 56. The pipe 52 is approximately on the longitudinal centerline ofthe concentrator l0 and is in between the downwardly depending spacedapart legs 58 of channel member 59. These legs 58 run longitudinallyalong the inner part of the concentrator 10. A collar 60 surrounds theshort tube or pipe 56 and is on the upper part of the flat member 12.This collar 60 positions the short member 56. Actually, the collar 60may be considered to be internally tapped and the outer portion of thepipe 56 may be threaded so that the collar 60 is screwed onto the pipe56 so as to press the of approximately 56 to 60. From experience, I havefound a desirable angle to be about 58. At the lower part of the twotubes 64 and 66 there is an opening 68. This opening surrounds the topof the tube 56 and may be approximately an eighth of an inch tothree-eighths of an inch below the top of the tube 56 so as to justcircumscribe the upper part of the tube 56. The top of the tube 64 issealed at 70 and the top of the tube 66 is sealed at 72. In the tube 66,and on that portion away from the tube 66, there is an opening 76. Also,in the tube 66, and on that face away from the tube 641 there is anopening 76. The openings 74 and 76 are on the trailing faces of thetubes 64 and 66 so that liquid and solids flow out of the openings 74and 76 as the two tubes 64 and 66 rotate.

From experience we have found that the clearance between the inner edgeof the tubes 64 and 66 of the openings 68 and the outer surface of thetube 56 should be in the range of approximately one-sixteenth of an inchto three-sixteenths of an inch.

The tubes 64 and 66 are partially in a pair 78. This pan comprisescircular sides 80 having an upper lip 82. The lower part of the sides 88curve inwardly at 84 and form a flat portion 86. The flat portion 86curves downwardly and inwardly to form member 88. The member 88 is inthe configuration of a frustum of a cone and terminates at approximatelythe same place as the lower part of the two tubes 6 1 and 66 or near theopening 68 of these two tubes 64 and 66.

In the lower part of the pan 78 there is a circular member having acurved cuplike portion 96. The inner part of this cuplike portion 96depends downwardly at 92 and then inwardly at 94. The flat portion 94contacts the legs 64 and 66 so as to seal the opening between the member88 and the legs 64 and 66 on the bottom of the pan 78. Further, thecentral portion of the pan 78 is flat and has an opening at 96. A centerboss 98 is positioned above the center of the pan 78 and has apassageway 100 which is aligned with the passageway 96. The center boss98 has a circular base 102 which has an opening 104 to receive the upperpart of the leg 64 and has an opening 106 to receive the upper part ofthe leg 66. In the passageway 100 and the opening 96 there is positioneda shaft 108.

In the upper part of the pan 78 and inside of the pan and below thecurved upper lip 82 there is positioned a rubber ring or a plastic ring1111. This ring 110 functions as a barrier to prevent the flow of solidsout of the pan 78.

It is seen that the pan 78, the tubes 64, 66, and the shaft 98 areunited into a unitary or integral structure. With the rotation of theshaft 108 the pan 78 and the tubes 64 and 66 rotate. As there is aclearance between the lower ends of the tubes 64 and 66 and the tube 56it is seen that with the rotation of 78, 64 and 66 that there is norotation of the tube 56.

On the upper part of the lateral braces 24 there is positioned a housing120. This housing 120 has a hollow interior 122. The housing may beattached to the cross braces 24 by welding or riveting or any suitablemechanical means. As is seen, the front part of the housing 120 ispositioned above the shaft 108. In fact, in the housing 120 there is abearing 124 and a bearing 126. The upper part of the shaft 108 is in thehousing 120 and is journaled in the two bearings 124i and 126. On theshaft 108, and between the bearings 124 and 126, there is positioned asprocket 128. On the rear part of the housing 120 there is positioned amotor 130. The motor 130 has a depending output shaft 132. On the outputshaft 132 there is a sprocket 134. A chain 136 runs between the sprocket134 and the sprocket 128 so that the output shaft 132 drives the shaft108. On the upper part of the housing 120 there is attached a stand 138.The stand 138 may be attached to the housing 120 by means of rivets orbolts and the like. Attached to the stand 138 is a handle 140 for easeof carrying the ore concentrator 10.

Around the upper portion of the pan 78 and the lower portion of theshaft 108 there is a case or housing having an upper flat member 142, alower flat member 1:14, a front wall 146, and sidewalls 168. It is seenthat there is no rear wall or that there is an opening 150. In fact,from FIGS. 3 and 4 it is seen that the housing is composed of an upperportion and a lower portion which may be joined at the lip 152. Themembers 144, M2, 146, 148 may be composed of plastic such as polystyreneor reinforced fiber glass. On the inside of the walls 148 and 146 thereis attached a protective band of high impact resistance polystyrene15:1. In FIG. 4 it is seen that this band extends from below the upperpart of the pan 78 and also above the upper part of the pan 78. Thishigh impact resistance polystyrene band reduces abrasion on the walls148 and 146. As can be readily visualized, ore and solids are thrown outof the pan and strike the band 154. If this band were not present, thewalls 148 and 146 would be abraded and in time holes would be worn inthese walls. From experience we have found that the band 154 preventsabrasion of the walls 146 and 148 and itself is abraded only to a verysmall degree. After considerable usage the band 154 showed substantiallyno abra- In the cylindrical tubes 18 and 20 there is positioned aninflatable bag 156. The bag 156 may be of a long tubular constructionand can be inflated at the site of usage. The reason for this is thatthe ore concentrator floats on water. In use, I have placed the oreconcentrator in a stream or partially on the bank of a stream andpartially in water. Then, I have shoveled sand and dirt and the likefrom the stream bed onto the platelike member 36 so that it runs downonto the screen 32. When the ore concentrator 10 is not being used thenthe floats 156 may be deflated and the ore concentrator carried to thenext site of usage or stored.

In FIGS. 5 and 6 there is illustrated another version of the rotatingpart of the concentrator. This version 160 comprises a pan havingcircular sides 162 and an upwardly and inwardly curving lip 166. Also,the sides 162 curve downwardlyand inwardly at 166 and into the bottom168 of the pan. In the pan 168 there project two tubes 170 and 172. Tube170 projects through an opening'l74 and the tube 172 projects through anopening 176. In fact, these two tubes may be welded into position in thebottom 168. The upper part of the tube 170 is enclosed in 178 and theupper part of the tube 162 is enclosed in 180.

The lower part of the tubes 170 and 172 meet in a tubular member 182. Asis seen in FIG. 5 the upper part of the tubes 170 and 172 unite whilethe lower part of these tubes form an opening and depend into a tubularmember 182. Inside of the leg 170 there is another leg 186 and inside ofthe leg 172 there is a leg 188. The outer surface of theleg 186 isspaced approximately an eighth of an inch from the inner surface of theleg 170 and the outer surface of the leg 188 is spaced approximately aneighth of an inch from the inner surface of the leg 172. The leg 186 isapproximately half the length of the leg 170 and the leg 188 isapproximately half the length of the leg 172. The legs 186 and 188 joinat their inner upper portion and depend downwardly to form an opening.The lower end of the legs 186 and 188 form a tubular member 190. Thetubular member 190 extends below the lower end of the tubular member182. In approximately the middle of the tubular member 191] there is acircular crossmember 192 having an opening 194 therein. The member 192with opening 194 is the equivalent of an orifice. The tubes 186 and 188are open at the top and are spaced inside the tubes 170 and 172 by,means of spacers 196. i

The lower end of the tube 190 surrounds the top of the tube 56. In fact,the distance between the inner surface of the tube 190 and the outersurface of the tube 56 should be in the range of approximatelyone-sixteenth of an inch to three-sixteenths of an inch or a clearanceof thatdistance. The lower part of the tube 1182 need not surround theupper part of the tube 56.

The angle between the two tubes 170 and 172, and the angle between thetwo tubes 186 and 188 may be in the range of approximately 56 to 60.From experience, I have found that an angle of 58 is desirable.

In the upper part of the tube 170 and in the upper part of the tube 172there are openings 2011. These openings Zilllare in the trailingportions of these tubes as these tubes rotate.

1. An ore concentrator, said concentrator comprising: a. a pan having abase, a side and an inwardly directed lip on the side; b. there being atleast two tubes; c. each of said tubes being on both sides of the baseof said pan and terminating inside of said pan; d. the end of each tubein the pan being sealed; e. each tube having a first opening inside ofthe pan; f. said tubes being at an angle with each other; g. the outerend of each tube outside said pan joining together to form a unitarystructure having a second opening; h. a third tube and a fourth tube; i.said third tube being in one of said tubes and the fourth tube being inthe other one of said tubes; j. said third and fourth tubes being at anangle with respect to each other; k. the outer end of the third andfourth tubes joining together to form a unitary structure having a thirdopening; l. a pipe leading into said third opening; m. there being aclearance between said third opening and the pipe; and n. a means torotate the pan and the tubes.
 2. A purifier for separating a liquid froma solid, said purifier comprising: a. a rotor having a housing, a panand a divider; b. said housing and said pan connecting with each other;c. said divider separating said housing and said pan; d. there being afirst means in said divider to allow communication between the housingand the pan; e. said pan having openings to allow solids and liquids toleave said pan; f. said housing having an open end for connecting with asource of a mixture of liquid and solid; g. a first baffle in said pan;h. said first baffle being positioned away from said divider and saidhousing; i. a third means to direct said liquid from said pan; and j. afourth means to rotate said rotor including the housing, the pan and thedivider.
 3. A purifier according to claim 2 and comprising: a. a fifthmeans to divide said housing into a plurality of compartments; b. saidcompartments and said pan communicating by said first means; and c. saidhousing being in the configuration of a frustum of a cone with the smallpart of the cone having said open end.
 4. A purifier according to claim2 and comprising: a. said pan having a bottom wall wHich extendsradially outwardly beyond the top edge of the housing; b. said panhaving a passageway in that part of the bottom wall and said passagewayjuxtapositioned to the peripheral portion of said bottom wall; and c.said passageway allowing solid and liquid to leave the pan.
 5. Apurifier according to claim 4 and comprising: a. a rotating secondbaffle in said pan; b. said rotating second baffle being positionedadjacent but spaced apart from said divider; and c. said rotating secondbaffle overlies said first baffle for directing solid and liquid towardsaid bottom wall.
 6. A purifier according to claim 4 and comprising: a.a plurality of said rotating second baffles in said pan.
 7. A purifieraccording to claim 4 and comprising: a. a fifth means to float saidpurifier on a mixture of the liquid and solid; and b. said fifth meanspermitting the open end of said housing to be in said mixture of theliquid and solid.